Russia’s Greatest Love Machine? Probably Not.
April 17, 2026 In “Rasputin,” the biographer Antony Beevor delves into the mysterious life of the last czarina’s mystic adviser Despite — or because of — the fact that he left behind almost no writings, Grigori Rasputin remains one of the most enigmatic figures of modern history. Credit... Laski Diffusion/Getty Image By Sophie Pinkham Despite — or because of — the fact that he left behind almost n o writings, Grigori Rasputin remains one of the most enigmatic figures of modern history. Credit... Laski Diffusion/Getty Image Sophie Pinkham is the author of “The Oak and the Larch: A Forest History of Russia and Its Empires.” April 15, 2026 Sophie Pinkham Sophie Pinkham is the author of “The Oak and the Larch: A Forest History of Russia and Its Empires.” April 15, 2026 Buy Book ▾ When you purchase an independently reviewed book through our site, we earn an affiliate commission. See more of our coverage in your search results. Add The New York Times on...